Willow House Wednesdays: thankful for advent

Barbie's “Thankful for Advent” Party

So sorry we missed you! Those who wanted me to post the discussion can read all about it in the wrap up below I made from my notes.

 

PART ONE (Welcome/ Greeting)

• The Call to attention: When everyone had begun settling down, I had the privilege of leading an opening hymn with my friend Cherry and my mother in law on the piano, O Come O Come Emmanuel. I had shivers running up and down my spine the whole time...what a great way to stop and center ourselves on the reason for the season! I have included the lyrics below.
• Opening Prayer : We invited the Holy Spirit to be with us and teach us how to be thankful for what we have and show us how to wait for Him.
• The round the Room intro Each person gave her name, favorite advent tradition, and a question/dilemma about advent we can solve together.

PART TWO: Thankfulness.

• Passed a Bible and had someone read each verse as we uncover what God thinks about giving thanks:

Col 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light

1 Thess 4:18 Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

Is 12:4 And in that day you will say, Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name and by means of His name [in solemn entreaty]; declare and make known His deeds among the peoples of the earth, proclaim that His name is exalted!
Eph 5:4 Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God].

2 Cor 4:15 For all [these] things are [taking place] for your sake, so that the more grace (divine favor and spiritual blessing) extends to more and more people and multiplies through the many, the more thanksgiving may increase [and redound] to the glory of God.

2 Cor 9:11 Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God.

1 Tim 4:4 For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be thrown away or refused if it is received with thanksgiving.

• Asked: “What can we do to cultivate gratitude in our lives?”
• Some ideas-- Create a thankfulness journal or list: at this point I had one of the guests read from the Willow House villa plate I had displayed where each guest has written down (as they arrived) five things to be thankful for. (our Villa collection plates are able to be written on in dry erase marker!) Taking a walk and listing them.
• Asked: What does gratitude build in us or help us to overcome?  PATIENCE. Gratitude teaches us to walk in peace through a season of waiting, like Advent. It's a change in perspective.

PART THREE: THE STORY OF ADVENT

• Asked: “What exactly is advent?” (This is the place to acknowledge the importance of Jesus' arrival as a gift for mankind at Christmas, where we celebrate the birth of the Messiah. Many people don't stop to think on the incarnational reality--- that GOD became MAN and humbled Himself from LOVE to be with us and remain with US.) During Advent, we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ-- in remembrance of His birth, in preparation for His second coming, and in anticipation of the "new" way He will come into our hearts at Christmas. Advent lasts the four weeks previous to Christmas Day.
• Had a guest share her testimony of Jesus at Christmas... I shared mine because Christmas eve was the day I ENCOUNTERED the risen Christ.
• Explained that Advent has two aspects. The first is JOY in PATIENCE. We learn to wait for the good we know is coming to us, believing the Promise. Have any of you had to practice the virtue of patience and perseverance in Hope? When?
• Advent's second “characteristic” is penitential. The Messiah came to save a penitent people with sorrow for their sins, not a proud and haughty people. To demonstrate this, Jesus came to a humble maidservant and was born in a manger. We are sinners, so at advent, we take the time to reflect on ways we have hurt others, God and ourselves. We ask for forgiveness, and we give forgiveness where we have failed to do so. This is a time of inward reflection... we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ!

PART FOUR: ADVENT WRECKAGE.

• Advent season can be confusing in our materialistic society. We spend the day after thanksgiving until the day of Christmas furiously racing around buy, buy, buying and then we take down the tree the day after Christmas and say “Phew, I'm exhausted” and TOTALLY miss the point.
• FACTOR ONE- people are stressed because of money, mostly because they don't have enough to spend on gifts. We brainstormed solutions, like NOT giving money but time, instead. Budgeting, taking advantage of sales (and like one family, two sisters, who were present, maybe making getting the shopping done "right" a tradition-- they have a TON of fun together building memories on black friday. )
• FACTOR TWO- people are stressed out because of extreme loneliness or because of their families. We brainstormed solutions here, like inviting the lonely, picking up the phone more, learning to "accept" life,  and focusing on GIVING instead of receiving love. Someone suggested sharing your large (possibly slightly annoying) family with a lonely person. Hah! :P
• FACTOR THREE- People are stressed out because of Travel. We brainstormed solutions and give ideas like “DON'T travel and focus on home” or “Make the traveling part of your gift.... find a way to demonstrate generosity to each person you encounter during the trip, etc." and make a difference. Even just offering a smile is an act of generorosity.
• FACTOR FOUR- People are stressed out because of Time. There is no secret to time management, but we brainstormed solutions to include slowing down to live well – the liturgical year really helps with this-- and scheduling, setting up routines etc. The two biggest solutions are simplifying and organizing. Cherry recommended a great resource to help women take care of the housecleaning part of time stress: FlyLady.com

PART FIVE- THE GOOD STUFF...TRADITIONAL OBSERVATION

• Liturgical tradition is the root of all advent traditions. Because Advent comes from the Catholic Church's liturgical season, you might want to know that the traditional colors are purple (just as they are at lent, for the penitential aspect.) and the traditional concept is to NOT have Christmas but anticipate Christmas. We dont' put up our decorations, like our Christmas tree, until DEC 24^th! (there is no "hard and fast" rule about this, but traditionally, we decorate for Christmas AT Christmas and for the following weeks, and we keep advent decorations simple and focused on the anticipation of Christmas, not Christmas itself.)
• An advent wreath is the number one "advent decoration." It consists of a wreath surrounding four candles (usually purple, again to represent contrition for our sins) and often has a fifth white candle in the center representing Christ. We light one candle the first week of advent (during a family meal, at a family prayer time, etc) and none of the others. We light TWO candles the second week of advent, etc etc. until Christmas when we can light ALL the candles. This is a visible "calendar" that marks the sacred time of Advent for us.
• the Jesse Tree is a tree, named for the Root of Jesse, on which we hang ornaments that represent the scriptural events in prophesy that lead us to Christ. Each day, a new ornament is hung (or drawn, pasted, etc) and a new scripture is read. Again, there is no "right way" or "wrong way" to do a Jesse Tree.
• Advent Calendar is a drawing that has built in doors or windows which we can open on each day of advent. These often have candy, chocolate or a treat behind each door to delight children, but are best used as tools when they have a scripture representing the messiahship of Christ.
• The Creche is a manger scene. Where I am from in the South of France, we make these figurines from clay representing all of the villagers. Then we add them to our Creche, decorating with moss and cotton and sand and twigs and many other things that make it come to life. It all starts with the stable, of course, and a figure of Mary and Joseph, but then you add the other characters as the days go past--- the villagers, the shepherd, the animals, and eventually the Magi. The villagers often represent the family. For example, when I had my first child, my grandmother added a woman carrying a baby to represent me in our village.

  

  This is my Grandmother in Provence, putting the finishing touches on our Family Creche during Advent.

  
  
• Caroling. Advent is a time to bring the anticipation of Christ to people, so making time to do things like going door to door to Carol is amazing. We have all had transformative experiences in caroling and can't recommend it enough for the simple joy it brings people.
• Focusing on giving (not just money) by giving time to people, making things for people, etc etc. We talked about making an anonymous gift for someone you know is really in need, or making cookies for strangers and neighbors.
• Because we Catholics observe a liturgical year, we have MANY occasions to give gifts during the year: at the birth of a child or on a birthday, on a feast day, at easter, the beginning of lent, or epiphany, etc. Why not put gifts to GIVE AWAY under your tree this year? What's stopping you?

WRAP UP

• Remember that Thanksgiving teaches us to slow down and be grateful, which breeds the ability to find patience during a long wait. Advent, then, is the celebration of waiting for the fulfillment of Joy, which we find at Christmas. What a powerful season of inner reflection this should stir in us!
• I had a Willow House table set up to remind my guests that now is the perfect time to book a party and share TIME with your friends. I made sure to give one of the party guests a Willow House gift as she left to ensure that she understood that Willow House means what it says: that we want to instill generosity as a virtue in our consultants. I am certainly thankful to be a part of such an incredible company that fosters this spirit in others.
• Because we should all want to GIVE MORE and GET LESS this season, I asked each guest to start now. As we closed, I challenge them to commit to praying for at least one person present during ALL of advent. We held hands and prayed the Our Father and some Words of encouragement for each woman present as she prepared her heart and mind to meet Christ in a powerful new way this Thanksgiving and Advent season.
• BELT OUT: O HOLY NIGHT or another O COME O COME EMMANUEL
  
  
  O Come O Come Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.  

The following is technically a Christmas song, but captures the REASON for our joy at Christmas so completely. It also contains personal significance for me and for a family I love dearly. As you sing it, listen to what you are singing-- Scripture says that there is POWER in the words we speak and St Augustine says that "he who sings prays twice."

O Holy Night!

The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

My love and prayers for you all this Thanksgiving and Advent season.
Barbie.